COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020 laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications on single-use plastic products listed in Part D of the Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment

The regulation lays down detailed, harmonised technical rules for how certain single‑use plastic products listed in Part D of the Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904 (the Single‑Use Plastics Directive) must be marked to inform consumers about the presence of plastic and appropriate disposal, in order to reduce the environmental impact of these products. It specifies the content, design, placement, size and language of the marking that must appear on packaging or products to ensure clarity and effectiveness as part of EU measures against plastic pollution.

The regulation is an implementing act of the European Commission (EU 2020/2151) and applies directly and uniformly in all EU Member States. It applies to the products listed in Part D of the Annex to Directive 2019/904, including wet wipes, sanitary towels and tampon applicators, tobacco products with filters, beverage cups and similar single‑use plastic items, that are placed on the EU market from 3 July 2021 onwards. The rules prescribe harmonised marking specifications for these products and their packaging.

• It defines harmonised marking specifications (design, wording, position, minimum size, colours, font and resolution) for each category of single‑use plastic product covered by Part D of Directive 2019/904 (wet wipes, sanitary products, tobacco filters, beverage cups etc.). These markings must clearly indicate that the item contains plastic and provide appropriate disposal information.
• It sets detailed technical requirements on how the marking is to be reproduced (e.g., ratio of marking elements, size relative to packaging surface, colour codes, font style and size, placement constraints) to ensure visibility and consistency across the EU.
• It requires that the information text of the marking be in the official language(s) of the Member State where the product is placed on the market.
• The regulation entered into force upon publication and became applicable from 3 July 2021, binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States without the need for national implementing measures.